FaultScore

FaultScore report

1981 Chevrolet Corvette problems

Owners have filed 11 complaints about the 1981 Chevrolet Corvette with NHTSA between 1998 and 2018. The largest single group is the fuel & propulsion.

Not graded

Too few complaints, or too short a model run, to compare fairly.

How this is worked out

The numbers

11

Complaints

0

Crashes reported

0

Fires reported

0

Injuries reported

How 1981 compares with every other Chevrolet Corvette

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1981 Chevrolet Corvette

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Fuel & Propulsion 4 36.4%
Transmission & Drivetrain 3 27.3%
Wheels 1 9.1%

Median failure at 84,000 miles

Suspension 1 9.1%

Median failure at 84,000 miles

Steering 1 9.1%

Median failure at 84,000 miles

Engine & Cooling 1 9.1%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Jan 1998 peak 6 Dec 2018

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

at 84,000 miles Belmont, CA

WHEELS

I'VE HAD AN UPPER CONTROL ARM BOLT COME OUT 4 TIMES ON MY CAR CAUSING THE WHEEL TO TUCK UNDER THE CAR. I ALSO HAD A LOWER CONTROL ARM BOLT COME OUT ONCE. I'VE BEEN LUCKY, IT'S ALWAYS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS TURNING AROUND OR GOING SLOW. HOWEVER, THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, I WAS PULLING AWAY FROM THE CURB IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE, AND IT SOUNDED LIKE A ROCK SHOT OUT FROM UNDER THE TIRE. I STOPPED AND TOOK A LOOK AT THINGS AND LOOKED AT THE STREET BUT DIDN'T SEE A IT OR BOLT OR ANYTHING, AND FIGURED IT WAS A ROCK. IT DROVE FINE, GOT ON THE FREEWAY AND MY CAR SEEED TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT. I GAVE IT A NORMAL SMALL CORRECTION AND SHOT HALF WAY ACROSS THE LANE NEXT TO ME THEN BACK ACROSS MY LANE. LET'S JUST SAY I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. SCARED ME! NOW I KNOW WHY THEY CALL THEM CONTROL ARMS! I WAS WONDERING IF THE CONTROL ARM BOLTS COMING LOOSE ARE AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES, BECAUSE I'VE HAD MY CAR FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS AND IT'S BEEN A REAL PROBLEM WITH MINE. VERY DANGEROUS AND I'VE BEEN VERY LUCKY. A COUPLE OF TIMES I JUST GOT OFF THE FREEWAY A FEW MINUTES BEFORE IT CAME APART. ONCE I WAS COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN WHEN IT HAPPENED. IT FELT LIKE I GOT A FLAT TILL I LOOKED AT MY WHEEL ALL CROOKED ON MY CAR. ONCE PULLING AWAY FROM A CURB. THE OTHER TIMES I WAS GOING SLOW MAKIN A TURN. VERY LUCKY! I DON'T HAVE RECEIPTS FOR THE REPAIRS OR PICTURES. I'VE BEEN LUCKY IT JUST MADE THE WHEEL TUCK UNDER AND DIDN''T DO DAMAGE TO ANYTHING ELSE. BUT IF I HAD BEEN GOING FAST, WHO KNOWS THE DAMAGE IT COULD HAVE CAUSED? I SEE THIS AS SUPER DANGEROUS! I'VE ASKED A MECHANIC IF THE BOLTS COULD BE DRILLED AND A CASTLE NUT AND PIN BE USED TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN? I DON'T REMEMBER THE ANSWER. I HAVE A DIFFERENT MECHANIC WHO HELPS ME WITH MY CAR. I NEED TO ASK HIM WHAT HE THINKS THE BEST SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM IS, BECAUSE I'M BEYOND TIRED OF IT. THANKS!

NHTSA complaint #11162151 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 84,000 miles Belmont, CA

STEERING

I'VE HAD AN UPPER CONTROL ARM BOLT COME OUT 4 TIMES ON MY CAR CAUSING THE WHEEL TO TUCK UNDER THE CAR. I ALSO HAD A LOWER CONTROL ARM BOLT COME OUT ONCE. I'VE BEEN LUCKY, IT'S ALWAYS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS TURNING AROUND OR GOING SLOW. HOWEVER, THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, I WAS PULLING AWAY FROM THE CURB IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE, AND IT SOUNDED LIKE A ROCK SHOT OUT FROM UNDER THE TIRE. I STOPPED AND TOOK A LOOK AT THINGS AND LOOKED AT THE STREET BUT DIDN'T SEE A IT OR BOLT OR ANYTHING, AND FIGURED IT WAS A ROCK. IT DROVE FINE, GOT ON THE FREEWAY AND MY CAR SEEED TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT. I GAVE IT A NORMAL SMALL CORRECTION AND SHOT HALF WAY ACROSS THE LANE NEXT TO ME THEN BACK ACROSS MY LANE. LET'S JUST SAY I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. SCARED ME! NOW I KNOW WHY THEY CALL THEM CONTROL ARMS! I WAS WONDERING IF THE CONTROL ARM BOLTS COMING LOOSE ARE AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES, BECAUSE I'VE HAD MY CAR FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS AND IT'S BEEN A REAL PROBLEM WITH MINE. VERY DANGEROUS AND I'VE BEEN VERY LUCKY. A COUPLE OF TIMES I JUST GOT OFF THE FREEWAY A FEW MINUTES BEFORE IT CAME APART. ONCE I WAS COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN WHEN IT HAPPENED. IT FELT LIKE I GOT A FLAT TILL I LOOKED AT MY WHEEL ALL CROOKED ON MY CAR. ONCE PULLING AWAY FROM A CURB. THE OTHER TIMES I WAS GOING SLOW MAKIN A TURN. VERY LUCKY! I DON'T HAVE RECEIPTS FOR THE REPAIRS OR PICTURES. I'VE BEEN LUCKY IT JUST MADE THE WHEEL TUCK UNDER AND DIDN''T DO DAMAGE TO ANYTHING ELSE. BUT IF I HAD BEEN GOING FAST, WHO KNOWS THE DAMAGE IT COULD HAVE CAUSED? I SEE THIS AS SUPER DANGEROUS! I'VE ASKED A MECHANIC IF THE BOLTS COULD BE DRILLED AND A CASTLE NUT AND PIN BE USED TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN? I DON'T REMEMBER THE ANSWER. I HAVE A DIFFERENT MECHANIC WHO HELPS ME WITH MY CAR. I NEED TO ASK HIM WHAT HE THINKS THE BEST SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM IS, BECAUSE I'M BEYOND TIRED OF IT. THANKS!

NHTSA complaint #11162151 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 84,000 miles Belmont, CA

SUSPENSION

I'VE HAD AN UPPER CONTROL ARM BOLT COME OUT 4 TIMES ON MY CAR CAUSING THE WHEEL TO TUCK UNDER THE CAR. I ALSO HAD A LOWER CONTROL ARM BOLT COME OUT ONCE. I'VE BEEN LUCKY, IT'S ALWAYS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS TURNING AROUND OR GOING SLOW. HOWEVER, THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, I WAS PULLING AWAY FROM THE CURB IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE, AND IT SOUNDED LIKE A ROCK SHOT OUT FROM UNDER THE TIRE. I STOPPED AND TOOK A LOOK AT THINGS AND LOOKED AT THE STREET BUT DIDN'T SEE A IT OR BOLT OR ANYTHING, AND FIGURED IT WAS A ROCK. IT DROVE FINE, GOT ON THE FREEWAY AND MY CAR SEEED TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT. I GAVE IT A NORMAL SMALL CORRECTION AND SHOT HALF WAY ACROSS THE LANE NEXT TO ME THEN BACK ACROSS MY LANE. LET'S JUST SAY I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. SCARED ME! NOW I KNOW WHY THEY CALL THEM CONTROL ARMS! I WAS WONDERING IF THE CONTROL ARM BOLTS COMING LOOSE ARE AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES, BECAUSE I'VE HAD MY CAR FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS AND IT'S BEEN A REAL PROBLEM WITH MINE. VERY DANGEROUS AND I'VE BEEN VERY LUCKY. A COUPLE OF TIMES I JUST GOT OFF THE FREEWAY A FEW MINUTES BEFORE IT CAME APART. ONCE I WAS COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN WHEN IT HAPPENED. IT FELT LIKE I GOT A FLAT TILL I LOOKED AT MY WHEEL ALL CROOKED ON MY CAR. ONCE PULLING AWAY FROM A CURB. THE OTHER TIMES I WAS GOING SLOW MAKIN A TURN. VERY LUCKY! I DON'T HAVE RECEIPTS FOR THE REPAIRS OR PICTURES. I'VE BEEN LUCKY IT JUST MADE THE WHEEL TUCK UNDER AND DIDN''T DO DAMAGE TO ANYTHING ELSE. BUT IF I HAD BEEN GOING FAST, WHO KNOWS THE DAMAGE IT COULD HAVE CAUSED? I SEE THIS AS SUPER DANGEROUS! I'VE ASKED A MECHANIC IF THE BOLTS COULD BE DRILLED AND A CASTLE NUT AND PIN BE USED TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN? I DON'T REMEMBER THE ANSWER. I HAVE A DIFFERENT MECHANIC WHO HELPS ME WITH MY CAR. I NEED TO ASK HIM WHAT HE THINKS THE BEST SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM IS, BECAUSE I'M BEYOND TIRED OF IT. THANKS!

NHTSA complaint #11162151 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pelham, NH

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE. IT HAS BEEN IN STORAGE SINCE 1982 AND HAS 4900 ORIGINAL MILES. THE VEHICLE IS IN NEW SHOWROOM CONDITION. I AM NOW PLANNING TO TRANSPORT THE VEHICLE TO FLORIDA AND DIRVE IT ON OCCASION. I WAS NOTIFIED OF THIS RECALL IN 1983 AND HAVE MISPLACED THE NOTIFICATION DUE TO THE CAR BEING IN STORAGE. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE IN GETTING THIS RECALL DONE, WORKING WITH A DEALER NEAR WHERE IT IS STORED IN BURLINGTON, VERMONT. THEY SAY THEY HAVE NO ACCESS TO OBTAINING THIS INFOFRMATION AND UNLESS I CAN PROVIDE THE NOTICE, THEY ARE UNABLE TO HELP ME. I WOULD LIKE TO ARRANGE THIS FOR EARLY IN NOVEMBER WHEN I RETURN TO VERMONT AND WILL WORK WITH SHEARER CHEVROLET TO ACHIEVE THE BEST SOLUTION POSSIBLE. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED.

NHTSA complaint #753118 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Northern, CA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

FUEL TANK WHICH IS MADE OF A STEEL OUTER SHELL WITH AN INNER LINER OF HIGH DENSITY POLYETHYLENE DEVELOPED A CRACK IN BOTH FRONT LOWER CORNERS. THIS PERMITTED FUEL TO ENTER BETWEEN THE STEEL TANK AND THE LINER. THE CONDENSATION IN THE FUEL RUSTED THE OUTER TANK, RESULTING IN A FUEL LEAK.

NHTSA complaint #821063 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sepulveda, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

FUEL TANK'S PLASTIC LINER CRACKED IN THE FRONT LOWER CORNERS CAUSING THE FUEL TANK'S OUTER STEEL SHELL TO RUST AND CAUSE A LEAK.

NHTSA complaint #529765 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sepulveda, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

FUEL TANK'S PLASTIC LINER CRACKED IN THE FRONT LOWER CORNERS CAUSING THE FUEL TANK'S OUTER STEEL SHELL TO RUST AND CAUSE A LEAK.

NHTSA complaint #529766 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sepulveda, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

FUEL TANK'S PLASTIC LINER CRACKED IN THE FRONT LOWER CORNERS CAUSING THE FUEL TANK'S OUTER STEEL SHELL TO RUST AND CAUSE A LEAK.

NHTSA complaint #529786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sepulveda, CA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

FUEL TANK'S PLASTIC LINER CRACKED IN THE FRONT LOWER CORNERS CAUSING THE FUEL TANK'S OUTER STEEL SHELL TO RUST AND CAUSE A LEAK.

NHTSA complaint #529765 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sepulveda, CA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

FUEL TANK'S PLASTIC LINER CRACKED IN THE FRONT LOWER CORNERS CAUSING THE FUEL TANK'S OUTER STEEL SHELL TO RUST AND CAUSE A LEAK.

NHTSA complaint #529766 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sepulveda, CA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

FUEL TANK'S PLASTIC LINER CRACKED IN THE FRONT LOWER CORNERS CAUSING THE FUEL TANK'S OUTER STEEL SHELL TO RUST AND CAUSE A LEAK.

NHTSA complaint #529786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.